Filmmakers telling story of the Bald Knobbers

Mar. 20, 2013

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Christian County Bald Knobbers line up on horses on a hill during the filming of the movie 'Bald Knobber.' Some scenes have required 300 extras and 100 horses. The film has been in the works for 18 months; producers spent six months writing the script. In this scene, they are on location on Forsyth. / Bear Creek Productions

Whether your family has roots in the Ozarks or you are an area newcomer, it’s likely you’ve heard of the Bald Knobbers.

But there’s more to the name than a longtime Branson entertainment group, or the theme behind a popular Silver Dollar City ride, Fire in the Hole.

In the 1880s, the Bald Knobbers was a vigilante group established in Taney County that eventually spread to other counties.

Michael Johnson, who moved from Texas to Branson more than seven years ago, is fascinated by the group’s rich Ozarks history. The more he learned about the Bald Knobbers the more he was intrigued. Eventually, about 18 months ago, he decided to create a feature-length film about this period in Missouri’s history.

Johnson, who spent three decades working in film and radio production, is directing “Bald Knobber,” produced through his company, Bear Creek Productions, and filming all over the area.

He’s received an Ozarks welcome.

People have opened their businesses, their farms, their land and their hearts to help with this film, he said. Volunteers and extras have literally stood outside in the freezing rain to make this movie.

“We are an ultra-low-budget film, but we have been able to secure resources from everywhere: helicopters, houses, barns. What would have cost tens of thousands has cost us a fraction because people are interested in this,” Johnson said.

Initially, his main concern was the actors. Could he find enough local talent? But when he held open auditions, he said, “I was blown away by the level of quality. What I didn’t know at the time was how big this would become.”

“You’re talking about family here, and (they) want to know they are portrayed accurately. There’s an added pressure to get this right,” said Copeland, a native of the area and a local history buff.

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One of the actors, Lee Walker, is the great-great-nephew of Bull Creek Dave Walker, who was the leader of the Christian County Bald Knobbers.

Walker says people “think it’s neat to be kin to someone like that.”

There are both Bald Knobber descendants and Anti-Bald Knobber descendants (a movement that arose in resistance to the vigilante group). While the movie does not take sides, the filmmakers want it to be as historically accurate as possible.

“What impresses me is the people,” said Angela Stephens, associate producer. “There is always someone who knew someone or was related, and they want to make it correct and true to history.”

The film will be shot all over the Ozarks: Forsyth, Branson, Fair Grove, Walnut Shade, Ozark and more. In fact, the crew has been able to film 35 feet away from the grave of Bald Knobber founder Nathaniel Kinney.

Making the movie

The Bald Knobbers vigilante group was founded by Nathaniel Kinney after he settled in Taney County in 1883, according to historical accounts. Taney County was a lawless, rural land. Kinney wanted to fight back against rampant crime in the area. The group grew in popularity but eventually there was a backlash against it, and it was seen as too violent. Eventually, Kinney was assassinated.

Trying to capture all that history has been challenging, producers said.

With help from Copeland, Johnson worked on the script for six months.

Copeland grew up in Springfield, but his grandparents had a place in Branson, so he spent summers and weekends there. A self-proclaimed “weird kid,” while others wanted to play, he enjoyed reading Ozarks history and studying old maps. Today, he’s the mapping coordinator for the Geographic Information System for the city of Branson.

Not only did Copeland know the history, but he knew the area, including the meeting spots of the Bald Knobbers.

One difficulty has been taking time and physical effort to scout for land that is untouched or realistic to make the film more accurate. In Hollywood, that would have been done in advance, Johnson said.

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“If we find a cabin, we have to make sure there is no wood that is rotten. That is the challenge, because in Hollywood, if they want the town of Forsyth, they just build it,” Copeland said.

That also means they film in places without electricity, without cell phone towers, and away from traffic. Getting to these areas means transporting equipment, sometimes by ATV, into the Ozarks wilderness.

Several scenes have required 300 extras and 100 horses, and all those people are volunteers.

Pretty much everyone involved in the film has a full-time job, so the filmmakers have to work around schedules, and filming is very sporadic.

While they are still fundraising, they expect to wrap up the film by fall, said Stephens.

Once the film is done, there will be one local premier, because the filmmakers plan to submit their work to film festivals, which only allow a single premier until festivals are over.

The success of the film will dictate what happens after that: It may appear in theaters or go straight to DVD.

It’s been a long trek, but it has been worth it, especially the connection with the community, the producers say.

Local people are so excited, some have shared family photos or history. Filmmakers have even been contacted by people from out of state who have a connection to the Ozarks.

Many communicate with the crew’s Facebook page.

“People we have dealt with have given us 120 percent,” said Johnson.

Lee Walker is excited for the debut.

“It’s going to be excellent. Nothing fabricated about it. It’s a true deal,” he said. “A lot of people are interested in that history. They have researched and researched and are doing an excellent job.”